16

Nov 2014

Flying Upside Down :: Joy Day!

When we’re out in the marketplace we often get the opposite sense of that don’t we?

Like the person at the car wash who is just coming in behind you and sees that you’re in a broken bay, and as you are backing up to switch bays, whips around you to be next in line at another bay, before you.

Or what about the child who has a tantrum in every aisle because he isn’t getting something he wants.

Or, ________ you fill in the blank.

We see selfish behavior in others.

Let’s take this a little bit closer to home.

Things aren’t going the way you want or planned.

You’ve prayed and asked God to change things.

He’s heard you, but nothing has changed.

What happens next?

Maybe if you’re like me, you have a tiny, one person, pity party.

I thought… What good has it done to daily lean hard on God?

To immerse myself in his word and to pray continuously?

Several weeks ago… I took a little nibble of that “forbidden fruit.”

We blame Eve for her first bite. She was enticed and, well you know the rest of the story.

I know better. But, I bit because I was tired. The fruit of “my perfect world” was enticing.

I was tired of rejection. Tired of being out of control. Tired of my situation. Tired of my challenges.

And I quit being grateful.

Sure, I counted blessings with you each week. I continued to be grateful in my relationships and the provisions made on my behalf.

But, in my heart… there was something ugly going on.

I was becoming selfish, ungrateful, and distant from God. I was like the child in the grocery aisle…I wanted my own way.

What did all that do for me?

It brought me into incredible sickness one night, uncontrollable anxiety, and illness.

How did I go from feeling well… to not?

I made a choice.

A very conscious choice.

Instead of opening the door to God’s throne room. I sat outside the door with my arms folded in front of me. Pouting. Stewing.

Sure I dropped off my petitions for others. But, not for me. Nope.

I had enough. I wanted my own way. And my grateful heart turned sour.

Maybe you noticed it. Maybe you didn’t. It’s hard to tell because this is a very private thing. I can’t even believe I’m telling you about this.

Yet… in my lack… I started desiring the things of this world over my relationship with God. There I said it.

It’s something I thought I had dealt with a long time ago and everything was settled.

We’re always to be on our guard. And in putting a few things first… I let down my guard. And you know the rest of the story.

If you know me, you know that I am grateful. It’s my nature. Or is it? I think my level of gratitude comes more from how much I align myself with God than anything else.

Is it wrong for me to complain to God that I’m tired of flying upside down? No… He knows I am.

What’s wrong for me, is to not thank him for always being with me. For helping me to fly upside down. For guiding me through the fog and darkness. For getting me to my destination. (No we’re not there yet… but there is no doubt he will.)

I love to read the Psalms. There is so much there to help me worship God. To put him in his rightful spot and me in mine.

I came across this verse from The Message…

We thank you, God, we thank you–your Name is our favorite word;your mighty works are all we talk about. Psalm 75:1

Let’s read it again.

We thank you, God, we thank you–your Name is our favorite word;your mighty works are all we talk about. Psalm 75:1

We thank you, God, we thank you–

That’s what we need to do… we need to have double gratitude.

One thank you is good. But, when someone does something for us or gives us something for which we’re really grateful, we often say thank you twice. We doubly grateful.

Everything that God does for us is amazing. Just think of the great big little things… like breathing.

We need to have double gratitude.

your Name is our favorite word;

It’s a pretty well-know fact that our favorite “station” is WIFM. (What’s in it for me.) If we’re honest we think of ourselves first and foremost. Even the most thoughtful among us do. They’re just better at moving on from the me spot faster than most.

I challenge you this week to look up all the names for God. To find songs and hymns that focus on the name of God. And to think on the name of God and even listen to or sing those songs.

your mighty works are all we talk about.

I bet you know someone who talks about God all the time. He is such an intimate part of their lives it’s as easy for them as talking about their spouse or best friend. I wonder how that became so natural for them? Maybe we could do that too.

This week… Let’s meditate on this verse:

We thank you, God, we thank you–your Name is our favorite word;your mighty works are all we talk about. Psalm 75:1

And try to actually “live it” out.

I wonder how our days might be different?

Joy Day!

Yay! for Joy Day!

I wonder the depths I might have plunged if it were not for Joy Day! If it were not for sharing scriptures with you on Facebook? These small disciplines shore us up as we wade through difficult days. One of the best ways to get joy through the good times and the not-so-good times is to reflect on our past week and count our blessings…large and small. Telling God, “thanks.”

Won’t you join me in counting just ‘seven’?

I’ll start!

Thank you God for…

your patience with me.

blogging friends who lend a hand.

for snow… its beauty and how it forces me to trust you more.

knowing that when my “ways” don’t work out… you have a much better “way.”

Comments

I am so grateful:
1. for The Christian women in my life and those online through their blogs and FB!
2. that the Lord is keeping my computer running until my son can take it in and work on it!
3. that God has become an intimate part of my Life and that I can talk to him as easily as a Dear Friend! He is probably saying Well it’s about time it has taken you long enough!!! 🙂
4. That I amazingly still have “The Peace” although there is still know change in my situation!
5. I am Believing and Trusting that He is using this time to work all things together to restore my Home!
6. that He continues to use me in ways the completely amaze me!
7. that I have become much more adept at “seeing” People through His Loving eyes!

Lord I thank you for
1–Your unconditional love
2–The time we got to sit our 2 grand babies last night!
3–That I found the perfect birthday gift for my mom today
4–That I have my 2 shoe boxes of toys and goodies ready to deliver to church tomorrow for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child
5–that we will have special family time this Thanksgiving
6–We ill see our 4 grandsons and their parents and our youngest daughter and her husband
7–for all I have been able to accomplish this week–that you returned my health to me so I can do things!
glenda kremer

Thank you Lord for:
1. Your grace and mercy in my life
2. My husband and his unconditional love and acceptance of me during the good and bad
3. That my kids are doing well
4. My home, my safe dwelling place
5. Your Word and how we can know You through it
6. My health
7. Every good and perfect gift is from above James 1:17

Lord, I am grateful for
1. A dear husband who cares for me as I am ill
2. Dr. Bandhari who takes her time with me and is so understanding and patient
3. My dear children who call and come by often to check on me
4. My Mother’s caretakers at the nursing home who love her and care for her
4. Finding out I am to be a grandmother yet again …this makes 8 and she is a girl!!
6. Allowing me to share with you all of my thoughts and prayers
7. My new Medicare health insurance,

Diane, thank you for your transparency. I understand where you’ve been, sad to say. But, God can take it when we get angry with Him. He loves us and understands us – better than we understand ourselves! He knows our despair, our anxiety. Yes, it’s a daily battle to give it to Him and not take it back. And, yes, He gives us such grace in our weary flesh state. And, you’re right. He deserves our thankfulness no matter what. I’m thankful to Him for:
1 – Family member who is growing closer to Him in spite of our circumstances.
2 – Church family who show us love and support.
3 – A pastor who loves the Lord and preaches His word so faithfully.
4 – Sermons about the spiritual warfare battles and victory!
5 – Heat in our home during these bitter cold days.
6 – My parents’ good health.
7 – An understanding husband.

1.Your great love for me.2.A new member of our family.Having fun with my bible study group which is hard for me sometime.3.Seeing me through Your sacrifice.A son that says his heart hurts when he falls from his sobriety.4.People you put in my path to strengthen me in my low places.5Your word that is doing a work in me.6A warm home in this cold weather.7.A loving husband that helps me when I’m sick even tho he deals with some big illnesses.

*hugs* Thank you for your honestly. I respect that in a person. It’s not about doing life “perfectly”, ya know.
I had to laugh though– I tried the “private” and “personal” card with the Wise Person In My Life a loooong time ago. He assured me it was just secret keeping and that “we’re all just as sick as our secrets.”. He relables it and suddenly I understand that it’s some old “shame on me” belief system that needs to go away. I can’t get help if it stays….and who knows who’ll be helped if I practice that “rigorous honesty”. So I’ve learned to do what you’ve done here–tell onyself on a regular basis!
Which leaves more room for JOYS (-:
–watching the first snowfall knowing I didn’t have long distances to drive.
–walking the park, gathering weeds for a “pulled together with a bow” outside table pretty.
–pausing in the woods to really see the awesomeness of His handiwork.
–the deep abiding peace, knowing G-d wrapped His arms around a long loved friend when He took him home.
–watching the 5 year old build Lego spaceships with her grandad.
–turning up the tunes and singing along with Michael W Smith.
–teaching what I know to another, knowing lives will be touched

Oh my gosh you got some AMAZING photographs!!! Thank you for sharing them here.

It’s so nice to meet you!

I'm Diane... a true believer in living life to the full! My motto is “Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary!” Now tell me something about you. Why? Because this blog is not all about me...it's about us...sharing in each other's lives and helping each other to be the wonderfully extraordinary individuals we were created to be! Let's chat more here...

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